Southeast Missouri teen dies after being run over by trailer

VAN BUREN — Deputies are investigating why an 18-year-old southeast Missouri boy was lying in the road, after the teen was struck and killed.

The teen, Derek Watts of Ellington, died of a skull fracture on Friday in Van Buren.

Authorities said 58-year-old Bearle Deal of Van Buren was driving a pickup pulling a trailer. He swerved to avoid what he thought was a pile of clothes in the roadway.

The trailer ran over Watts, said Dennis McSpadden, coroner for Carter County. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Carter County Sheriff's Department and coroner's office were investigating.